Ukraine crisis: Negotiators try to secure release of detained observers, US warns of new sanctions

Updated
Sat Apr 26 23:58:58 EST 2014

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Negotiators are trying to secure the release of a group of observers from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) being held by pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine.

Germany's defence minister, Ursula von der Leyen, has confirmed that 13 mission members have been arrested, including the observers, their interpreter and driver.

Denis Pushilin, the head of the separatists' self-declared Donetsk Republic, has accused the observers of spying for NATO.

"We arrested some NATO spies ... they will be exchanged for our own prisoners. I don't see any other way they will be freed," he told reporters.

The OSCE told reporters in Vienna, where it is based, that all the observers in its main mission on the ground in Ukraine were accounted for.

The detained group appears to be part of a separate, smaller unarmed military verification mission under German command.

Slaviansk, where the observers are being held, has become the epicentre of tensions between separatists and Ukrainian authorities in the eastern part of the country where pro-Kremlin rebels have seized a string of towns.

Observers brought a spy with them: separatist mayor

The separatist, self-declared mayor of Slaviansk said the observers were believed to have a spy amongst them from the pro-Western government in Kiev.

"People who come here as observers bring with them a real spy - it's not appropriate," Vyacheslav Ponomaryov said in front of the SBU security service building occupied by separatists where the Ukrainian government said the observers were being detained.

Russia said it would take all possible steps to free the detained observers, according to reports in Russian news agencies citing Russia's OSCE envoy.

"We think that these people need to be freed as soon as possible," Andrei Kelin said in comments cited by ITAR-TASS.

"Russia as a member of the OSCE will undertake all possible steps in this matter."

One of the detained observers is in need of urgent medical care, Ukraine's security service said in a statement.

"The official representatives of the OSCE are being held in inhuman conditions," the statement said.

"Among those detained is a person who needs immediate medical help."

Ukrainian security services were ready to provide medical assistance, according to the statement, but the separatists had rejected this offer.

Swedish foreign minister Carl Bildt said one of the OSCE members was a Swede.

Washington has called for the immediate release of the OSCE team, with a State Department spokesman saying "there is a strong connection between Russia and these separatists".

The interior ministry in Kiev said that the OSCE observers were stopped at a rebel-held checkpoint as they were entering Slaviansk on Friday and were taken to the SBU building.

US warns of swift, new sanctions

The latest incident comes as the United States warns of a new round of sanctions that could be imposed on Russia as early as Monday.

The new sanctions will likely target individuals or companies with influence in specific sectors of the Russian economy such as energy and banking.

"We believe that these sanctions will have a significant impact," US deputy national security advisor for strategic communication Ben Rhodes said.

The European Union will announce sanctions separately.

The new sanctions are intended to punish Russia for failing to comply with an international agreement to help defuse the Ukraine crisis, according to a statement from G7 leaders released on Saturday by the White House.

"Given the urgency of securing the opportunity for a successful and peaceful democratic vote next month in Ukraine's presidential elections, we have committed to act urgently to intensify targeted sanctions and measures to increase the costs of Russia's actions," the G7 statement said.

Sources familiar with the matter said the US list of individuals targeted with sanctions is expected to include "cronies" of Russian president Vladimir Putin.

The EU is expected to name 15 previously unidentified individuals to be placed under sanctions and would focus on those it thinks are responsible for the unrest in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's prime minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk will cut short his trip to Rome and miss the canonisation of John Paul II and John XXIII because of growing tensions with Russia, his spokeswoman said.